Paper Type
Complete
Paper Number
PACIS2026-2089
Description
Orders of Worth (OoW) theory offers a valuable lens for analyzing justification struggles in social and socio-technical systems, yet its application in Information Systems (IS) research remains limited. We conduct a narrative review of 15 studies that apply OoW to examine how actors justify technology adoption, governance structures, and organizational change. Our review spans digital business models, blockchain governance, IT innovation, and platform legitimacy. We identify key theoretical contributions, methodological approaches, and research gaps. Based on our synthesis, we develop a conceptual process model outlining the drivers, mechanisms, and outcomes of justification in IS. We then propose six research directions to examine how digital infrastructures, AI-driven decision-making, institutional complexity, algorithmic contestation, and the materialization of justificatory logics shape justification struggles in IS contexts. By positioning justification as a dynamic and contested process, we aim to advance IS scholarship on legitimacy, governance, and value creation amid increasing technological and institutional complexity.
Recommended Citation
Sharifi Khajedehi, Salma; Namvar, Morteza; Intezari, Ali; and Akhlaghpour, Saeed, "Theorizing Justification in Information Systems: A Narrative Review of Orders of Worth Research" (2026). PACIS 2026 Proceedings. 6.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2026/adv_theory/adv_theory/6
Theorizing Justification in Information Systems: A Narrative Review of Orders of Worth Research
Orders of Worth (OoW) theory offers a valuable lens for analyzing justification struggles in social and socio-technical systems, yet its application in Information Systems (IS) research remains limited. We conduct a narrative review of 15 studies that apply OoW to examine how actors justify technology adoption, governance structures, and organizational change. Our review spans digital business models, blockchain governance, IT innovation, and platform legitimacy. We identify key theoretical contributions, methodological approaches, and research gaps. Based on our synthesis, we develop a conceptual process model outlining the drivers, mechanisms, and outcomes of justification in IS. We then propose six research directions to examine how digital infrastructures, AI-driven decision-making, institutional complexity, algorithmic contestation, and the materialization of justificatory logics shape justification struggles in IS contexts. By positioning justification as a dynamic and contested process, we aim to advance IS scholarship on legitimacy, governance, and value creation amid increasing technological and institutional complexity.
Comments
15-Method